TOF- ACSM Standard Operating Procedures

This document provides recommendations for the use of Time of Flight Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitors (TOF-ACSM) developed by Aerodyne Research Inc. (ARI) and TOFWERK AG for the measurement of the chemical composition of non-refractory submicron particles (NR-PM1), and more recently of non-refractory particles with aerodynamic diameter below 2,5 µm (NR-PM2.5). The reader is strongly encouraged to refer to the TOF-ACSM User Guide, available at support.aerodyne.com, and/or provided by the distributor, for information about the operation of the instrument. The present document is intended to provide key information and good practice relating to operating parameters, maintenance frequencies, as well as data validation steps to be followed.

These standard operating procedures were prepared based on documentation and information provided by ARI and its French distributor (ADDAIR) as well as the state of the scientific art and good practice shared in the context of the European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace gases Research InfraStructure (ACTRIS, www.actris.eu), the European COST Action CA16109 for Chemical On-Line cOmpoSition and Source Apportionment of fine aerosoL (COLOSSAL, www.costcolossal.eu), and feedback from ACSM operators within French regional monitoring networks.